Apparatus for spreading split bars to circular forms



Feb. 23, 1954 T. RLLANDERS APPARATUS FOR SPREADING SPLIT BARS TOCIRCULAR FORMS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 14, 1951 INVENTOR v THO/msRIM/050s BY *Za ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1954 r. R. LANDERS APPARATUS FORSPREADING SPLIT BARS TO CIRCULAR FORMS Filed March 14, 1951 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES PATIENT omcsAPPARATUSFORSPREADING;Semi:Baits T0 CIRCULARFORMS Thomas R; sanders,Holy'olg'e, Ma'ss.', assigno'r to Moore Drop Forging Company,Springfield, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application Mar'ch14,1951, Serial No. 215,574

"1 claim. (01. 153-48) This invention relates to an improved method andapparatus for spreading steel bar stool; or billets of steel into ringshape for drop forging work and has for its object to provide economyin'the'fabrication of rings of extremely hard and tough steelcompositions. Y

- Another object of the invention is to provide novel mechanism whichwill prevent wastage of expensive stock normally incident to the usualmethod employed in drop forging such rings.

Another object of the invention is to form rings for drop forging workof the type disclosed inappreciably less time than is employed underprior methods of operation.

A further object is to provide apparatus of a simplified type which willpermit greater utilization of available drop hammer equipment in a dropforging shop.

These and other objects and advantages will be seen from the followingdisclosure of the invention in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

.In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the app-aratusin open position with a splitbillet shown disposed in position for the spreading operation;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the apparatus as-shown by Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan showing the parts of the apparatus in-closedposition with the ring halves "spread;

Fig. 5 is a side view of the parts as shown by Fig. 4 with the ring insection; and

Figs. 6 to 10 are views showing successive steps in the formation of aring.

It has long been a general practice to forge "steel rings by upsetting abillet or block of stock into ring shape by pounding the stock over aplug and thus spreading the steel gradually.

The ring is then brought to shape for any fulleri'ng, trimming, andblocking die operations with a thinned down web in the center which mustbe cut or punched out for the ring to be forged finish dies andsubsequently brought to size;

In working steels of a hard and tough alloy composition this type ofoperation is excessively time consuming, wasteful of expensive material,

and requires the use of several preliminary forgi'n'g die blocks. Two ormore drop hammers may be necessary to progressively form a from plicityof preliminary shaping impressionsmay require the use of severalhammers. Thus-prior processes so far as I and aware are relativelyexpensive from the standpoint of utilizing costly equipment as well asresulting wastage of material. V

Referring to the drawings, the method willbe disclosed in connectionwith a preferred form of ring spreader tool used in the preliminaryshaping of a steel billetprior to the blocking and edging operations ona worl; piece.

As shown by Fig. 1, a supporting block-orbed plate I is provided with astationary die 2 mounted at one end of plate l. Die 2 isformed with asemi-circular born 3, horizontally disposed and having its curved edge 4facing the curved edge 5 of a complementary horn 6 of a movable die 1.Die 1 is'adapted'for reciprocatory motion being slidably mounted in ways"8 of the bed I, and as shown by Fig. 2, isofiset upwardly of the die 2.

The dotted line representation of, a steel bar or billet 9 is shown byFig.1 in'positionfor movement of the horns together intoan overlappingposition as shown by Fig. 5. It will 'ben'oted in Figsql and 2 that thebillet is split having in its upper and lower surface longitudinalrecessed portions as "the V cuts 19. The bottom of the recesses or cutsare registered at meangitudinal chterline of the billet. The length andwidth of the split between the ends'of the billet is controlled by thesize of the ring desired and the material being worked. As will beappreciated, the two sides of the spur sense the approximate internalcircumference or the ring to beformed. The split may be convenientlymade by suitabledies-as 'i-I r'a drop forg''ham'mer.

It will be seen from the drawings of Figs. 2, 4 and 5 that the billet isplaced angularly against the tip of the stationary horn with one side ofa recess centrally at the top edge of the horn. In this position theupper angular side of the adjacent V rests on the upper marginal edgesurface of horn 3. The edges of the horns will thus apply pressureangularly against opposite sides of the bar and on opposite sides of thesplit.

The method is especially adapted to work forging stock having acomparatively narrow range of forging temperatures, but may be usedWherever economy of operations is desired. As a representative exampleof the new method of producing rings the steps in forming a ring from ablock of steel such as AMS. 5642 Stainless will be discussed and thedetail of the apparatus shown by the figures described. This steel is ofthe following analysis: C. .30, M. .85, Phos.

.010, Sul. .009, Sil. .30, Ni. .63. Cr. Ai Mo. .22. GS. 6-8.

The bar or block of steel is first heated to approximately 2100 degrees.A tong handle as at I I is formed and the block is split at I U as inthe dies of a drop hammer. A line through the center of the stock isthus provided. The split block is then reheated and placed on the sta"tionary horn as in Figs. 1 and 2. Power is applied to move the slidablehorn 6 for applying pressure against the opposite surface of the V cutand the two halves of the block are pressed to separate and open up intoa ring shape. In steels of less toughness a single pass of the movablehorn may form the desired circular shape. 7

However, in the example of the above analysis steel two passes arenecessary. The first pass spreads the sides of the block approximatelyhalf way and the piece is then reheated to temperature. A second pass ismade with the reheated partially formed ring then spread to the extentshown by Fig. 4.

In the form shown by Fig. 4, the ring is reheated and placed in the diesof a drop hammer for ordinary blocking and finishing operations into thedesired annular ring form.

It will be realized by those skilled in this art that a true circle isnot necessary for a proper shaping of the ring to be worked for theblocking and finishing operation of the drop hammer die.

I The tolerances of the die are such that the metal at each end of thebar, when spread as in Fig. 4, may readily be hammered into the desiredring shape.

The ring as blocked out by the hammer is then placed in a usual presstrimming punch and any flash is cut away to leave the ring in conditionfor finish machining.

The progressive formation of a ring from the split block of steel isshown by Figs. 6-10.

The apparatus shown by the drawings will now be specifically described.In Fig. 2 the bed plate I is shown mounted on a supporting member as atable I3 and is fixed thereon by a plurality of bolts Id. The stationarydie 2 is in elevated position in overlying relationship to plate I,being fixed on a spacer block. is as by bolts I 8. Block I5 is in turnfixed to plate I by bolts I'I. Block I5 is also secured against movementby the mortise and tenon arrangement as at I8.

The horn 3 faces the other end of the plate I and is spaced from itssurface to permit sulficient clearance for various dimensions in thethickness of the ring as will be obvious.

Movable die "I is slidably mounted at the other end of the plate I withits horn 6 facing horn 3. A spacer deck is fixed by bolts 2| to theplate I (see Fig. 3). Ways 8 are formed by the sides 22 bolted at 23 todeck 20. Sides 22 at' the top are inwardly flanged at 25. Roller plates25 are fixed to flanges 24 to retain in a plurality of longitudinalspaced roller pockets 26 (see Fig. 1) upper rolls 27 for the die I. Thepockets 2B are formed in the underside of fianges 24. Lower rolls 28 arerecessed in pockets 29 cut in the surface of a roller insert 30. Inserts30 are embedded in slots cut longitudinally at each side adjacent theinner edges of sides 22. Upper and lower rolls are thus provided toembrace the marginal edges of the die I for its sliding movementrelative to deck 2i! when the die 'I is moved toward the stationary die2.

At the rearmost end of die 1 and centrally thereof between ways 8 anabutment or pusher block 3| is secured as by bolts to the upper surfaceof the die. Block 3i is raised above the sides 22 and has a threadedengagement at 32 with the fore end of a piston rod 33 of a pneumatic orhydraulic pressure cylinder at mounted in any suitable manner so as toapply a direct thrust to the movable die I.

As will be noted from Fig. 4, the piston 33 when fully extended causesthe horn t to overlap horn t with the diametrical base line of horn 6 asat 35 directly superimposed over the diametrical base line of horn 3.The lower edge of horn 6 and the upper edge of horn 3 thus closelyapproximate a true circle around which the ring halves are spread by thedie pressure in oppositely directly parallel paths.

On the top of the sides 22 and extending crosswise between them is astop bar 36 bolted at each end to the sides as shown. Bar 38 lies in thepath of block 3| and is located to terminate the outward travel of thepiston rod 33 when the horns are overlapped to the extent desired forformation of the ring on the apparatus.

It will readily be appreciated that semi-circular horns 3 and i; may beprovided with various dimensions so that rings of a smaller diameter maybe produced. In this event the rear edge of stop 35 may be movedrearwardly as may be needed by placing a check or other block againstits edge and further limiting the outward thrust of the piston. In theembodiment of the apparatus illustrated by the drawings, the dies shownare designed to produce a ring diameter of 12 inches.

What is claimed is:

Apparatus for spreading a bar of hard and tough steel stock splitbetween the ends thereof into circular form comprising a table support,a stationary die horizontally disposed at one end thereof having anarcuate semi-circular portion the opposite of the support and overlyingthe table in parallel relation therewith, guideway structure mounted atthe other end of said support and defining a horizontal path in adjacentparallel relation to said stationary die, a movable die in guide-waywith rollers pocketed at each side of the guideway embracing the top andbottom side edges of said mov able die for rolling movement thereof,said movable die having a complementary arcuate semicircular edge formedat its inner end and at its outer end portion having an abutmentprojecting upwardly of the sides of said guideway structure, a pistonrod fixed to said abutment and fluid pressure means for extending saidpiston to move said die toward and away from said stationary die, saidguideway structure including a transverse stop member fixed to the sidesthereof and extending between the same above said movable die in thepath of said abutment, said movable die being limited in its movementinwardly of said stationary die by the engagement 5 of said abutmentagainst said transverse stop and in said position overlying thestationary die with the arcuate portions of the dies forming a circlearound which the split halves of a steel bar may be spread.

THOMAS R. LANDERS'.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date Kennedy Feb. 27, 1900 Bailey Apr. 19, 1910 Kennedy Aug. 6,1912 Steinmann June 18, 1929 Braun Jan. 5, 1932 Braun Jan. 5, 1932Belanger June 12, 1945 Peterson Aug. 26, 1947

